" The City is implementing various strategies to target some of the challenges our natural resources are facing, such as energy, water, waste and biodiversity conservation. "
Alderman Patricia De Lille

Hazard and vulnerability profile

Structural fires (Informal / formal areas): Burgeoning informal settlements and informal "backyard" dwellers in formal settlement areas, driven by an increasing rate of urbanisation, result in high density areas, for which development planning was not approved. These are mostly located in high risk marginal areas where open land is "available". These areas often don't have access to basic municipal services, such as electricity, water, and sanitation, which results in both a high flood and fire risk. The rate of urbanisation and the lack of available land frustrates efforts to eradicate informal settlements. Wild fires also constitute a significant hazard to Cape Town, exacerbated by invasive alien vegetation. Coastal inundation due to storm surges is already a feature of some of our coastal areas. This is often the result of inappropriate development, but is expected to increase due to climate change, as with all of the above.

Essential 1

The Municipal Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Plan serves to confirm the organizational and institutional arrangements within the City of Cape Town to effectively prevent disasters from occurring and to lessen the impact of those hazards that cannot be avoided.

Essential 4

The City of Cape Town has developed one approach to address the threats in a hollistic and integrated manner via the Informal Settlement Transformation Programme (ISTP). This programme is addressing critical infrastructure (i.e. Storm Water Systems, water, electricity etc.) to reduce the risks within informal settlement areas.

Essential 7

The City of Cape Town has numerous education and training programmes in place aimed at developing a resilient city. These include the Smart Living Campaign, which has variations targeting the different sectors, such as residents, businesses, etc. There is a Green Schools Campaign which includes energy and water audits and retrofits, Smart Eating: Food and Climate Change Campaign, Food Tent Gardens, the annual Youth Environmental (YES) Drama Festival, etc. Currently, the City is piloting the incorporation of Disaster Risk Reduction in school curriculum in three schools, namely; Observatory Junior, Helderkruin Primary and Hawston Primary.

Essential 8

The City of Cape Town is in the process of implementing a Coastal Protection Zone bylaw which will legislate sustainable coastal development. This is an ecosystems‐based approach to risk reduction, aiming to preserve biodiversity and natural coastal buffers to storm surges whilst not restricting access to the coast.

Essential 9

In order to be in a state of disaster preparedness the Disaster Risk Management Centre has institutional arrangements and mechanisms in place to issue advisories, alerts and warnings to communities at risk for impending and/or threatening emergency/disaster situations. Amongst others, the City has access to the South African Weather Service Early Warning System (Fire Danger Index System/Severe Weather Conditions) as well as the South African Weather Service Flash Flood Guidance System

Disclaimer

The documents have been posted as received. The designations employed do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or of its authorities.